Dr. Eli Schussheim, chairman of the pro-life NGO "Efrat," attacked the recent decision by the Health Basket Committee to include funding for free abortions in the provided health care basket, even without proof of any medical problem in the fetus.

"They are stealing 16 million shekels ($4.6 million) from sick people whose medicine saves and improves lives, and giving the money instead as a prize to 6,000 negligent women who didn't prevent the pregnancy they didn't want," accuses Schussheim.

The 16 million shekels for free abortions comes at the cost of other medicines, notes Schussheim, emphasizing that the money is "stolen from the sick who are in mortal danger."

Meanwhile, the committee decision does not at all improve the health of the women, but rather exposes them to the medical and emotional dangers entailed in abortion, warns the doctor.

Abortion is "an emotional scar for one's entire life," claims Schussheim, adding that no doctor can declare that abortion poses no danger for the woman.

"It's strange. If women don't want to be in pregnancy let them come to the committee and request aid, but they tell them "no, get pregnant and we'll get rid of the pregnancy,'" says Schussheim.

The doctor asserts that the establishment of a mechanism to approve the distribution of contraceptives in the health basket instead of free abortions would save enormous amounts of money; money which could be used for serious medical needs. Such a move would follow the policy of "preventative medicine," he explains, while emphasizing that pregnancy is not a "sickness."

Schussheim further notes that while the sick are often required to pay a share of their medicines, women under the new decision are not even required to financially contribute.

The Efrat chairman places blame for the decision on Health Basket Committee members who are women claiming to be feminist, although he asserts that their decision is far from true feminism, as it removes the right of women to make fully informed decisions on what will happen with their bodies.

This understanding of the full realities of abortion are what Efrat aims to provide, along with financial aid to women in need so as to make their pregnancy possible.

Schussheim criticizes the recent decision for easing abortion to the point where there is not enough time for well-informed and extensive consideration.

In order to confront this new reality of shortened timespans, Efrat will now have to act more earnestly and will require larger funds than those currently available to the group, reports the doctor.

"This is happening in the state of Israel 70 years after the Jewish people lost nearly 7 million Jews," reminds Schussheim. "Women want to give birth but aren't in a position to do so. We must help them. Every day we lose 110 children, and no one objects."